Irish Times: Alarm as brightest students reject computing courses
I saw this article in the Irish Times today (19th July 2007). It outlines the sharp decline in third level applications to computer science related courses among the highest acheiving Leaving Cert scorers (down to 0.8% from 6% in 2000).
This is course alarming for a great many people; but not me. In a couple of years when I’m finished University, it’ll be me and the few other comp-sci graduates taking our pick of the best jobs in the industry, he he he. Or we could establish a startup, do a few months of Ajax-heavy work, watch the users roll in and get aquired by Google…
I’ve included a scan of the article so you can check it out yourselves. Click the image for some embiggened Flickrised goodness.
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Tags: Computer Science, Irish Times, News, Pictures, University
Or, as is my experience you will suffer stress, frustration and long hours because you are constantly short handed. You will also have to turn away work because you don’t have the people to staff it.
I have mentioned this before on my site. From what I hear the problem is career guidance teachers with their heads up their arses:
http://www.sliabh.net/?p=904
[...] or very poor at it. [source]. It also doesn’t look like the number of candidates will change, according to this. What does this mean for the Irish IT industry [...]
I don’t know if I would be so happy Con, this could lead to more and more IT companies actually leaving Ireland.
Con
we’ll get the programmers from Hungary, Czech, Romania, Russia, India, China.. we do already :-)
Dermot
SK,
you’re absolutely right about the career guidance teachers, I was lucky enough to have one when I left secondary that had the foresight to recommend my course but I’m sure many weren’t so lucky. The problem is there seems to be little desire to promote and expand the IT industry in Ireland.
I read the other day that we’re the number exporter of software in the world (10% of our total), but this is due to manufacturing not development.
I’ve heard good things about the IDA sorting out startups, but things could still be a lot better me thinks.
Why would you do a tech course I did and wish I didn’t. I was excellent at Maths, I could be flying in the finance sector earning multiples of what I earn now if I had done that.
Messing on google tonight. Are you the Conor Mulligan who used to live in DC? If so, would be cool to hear from you, JHolbax@aol.com Later.
Is that a new way? Are you trying to play with my righteous tune I have a fresh joke for you) What kind of shoes do lazy people wear? Loafers.